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Present...

Mabel stared at Stan, gaping. She dropped her spoon into her bowl of ice cream. She tried to find words, but just ended up speechless.

Stan threw his hands up. "Don't freak out!"

Mabel let out a small scream, just to release tension. "I- I- I- What?!" She was sitting on the counter with her legs crossed, and her breathing quickened.

Stan stiffened and cleated his throat. "Maybe telling you wasn't such a great idea..."

"So, what you're saying is," she said, laughing a bit, trying to wrap her head around the concept. She put a hand on her forehead. "You're not even my uncle Stanford!? W-What?! None of that makes any stinking sense?! First off, who has twins and names one Stanley and the other Stanford! That's just asking for confusion! What in the world! What happened next! You straight up impersonated someone! What the heck!" Her tone fluctuated and she couldn't make eye contact with Stan.

"Mabel, I'm sure this is a lot to take in, but I didn't want what happened between Dipper and me to happen to us. So, I thought just telling you would make it easier to take in. Apparently I was wrong." Stan rubbed the back of his neck.

Her eye twitched. "What? No! I'm taking this all in just fine!" She sounded like a mad woman. "And how did Dipper find out about all this? Huh? And why in the world did you think impersonating someone was a good idea!"

Stan narrowed his eyes at her and put his hands on his hips. "Hey, what did you want me to tell people? 'Oh, no, I'm Stanley. Stanford was my twin brother who got lost in a portal never to be seen again'? That would sound like I killed him or something! The police would think I'm insane!" He threw his hands wide, his voice raising in volume.

Mabel jumped to her feet. "I think you're insane! None of this makes any sense!"

Sighing, he let his arms sag and shook his head. "That's what I thought. But that's what really happened." He glanced at the tubs of ice cream on the counter. "Looks like sundae night is ruined."

"Forget sundae night, what happened next!" Her eyes were wide and she was started to get restless. "What happened between you and Stanford? How did Dipper react? How did he find out? These are all things I need to know!"

"Maybe not," he said, staring at the floor. "I mean, look at how you reacted to just the first part of what happened. Maybe don't take it all on one night. Also, I have no clue how Dipper found out. And I thought I was doing a really good job at looking like Ford too."

Mabel face palmed. "Dude, that's not the point. Please tell me what happened! You can't send me to bed after that!" She clapped her hands together pleadingly.

Stan shook his head. "Mabel, get some sleep. I'll tell you once all this has a chance to... sink in." He tapped his foot nervously.

"But-"

"Mabel."

She sighed, admitting defeat. Taking her bowl of ice cream with her, she walked past him out of the kitchen and up the stairs. Waddles greeted her at her bedroom. He oinked at her but she walked past him.

Sitting down on her sleeping bag, she stared at her ice cream bowl. Her hands shook and her stomach churned. For once, Mabel Pines didn't feel like eating ice cream. She groaned and set the bowl down, pushing it aside. Waddles happily ate it up.

A million questions were running through her head currently. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't sleep. Butterflies were in her stomach and thoughts in her mind. It also didn't help that whatever that weird raccoon-wolf-sounding thing was out there again.

"Awoooororororrah!"

She groaned and pulled her pillow over her head. All she wanted was to sleep this off. To wake up and realize the whole "coming to visit Gravity Falls" thing had been a dream. Her visit was a thousand times weirder than she had expected. A part of her just wanted to go back home to her parents and act like none of this had ever happened.

But, as she continued through sever hours of not being able to fall asleep for nothing, she decided it wasn't a dream. Whatever this craziness was was real and made absolute zero sense. She liked weird stuff, but dang, this was a step too far.

3 years ago...

Wide eyed, Stan tensed at the 12 year old boy hugging him. One question shot through his mind. Dad?!

When Stan didn't hug the boy back, he looked up. "Dad? Everything alright?"

Stan shook himself and cleared his throat. "Yep, everything's fine."

The boy smiled warmly at him and the two separated. He pulled a bag behind him and into the house. "So, anything interesting happen while I was gone?" he asked, heading up the stairs.

"Nope, nothing at all," Stan said absentmindedly. What! Ford had a son! And he didn't even tell me! Oh my gosh! Ford has a son! How do I break it to him!

Stan followed the boy up the stairs. He stood at the doorway of his room while the kid unpacked everything. Stan searched the luggage for any name tag or ID. "So..." He spotted a small luggage tag on the zipper. "Mason, how was your trip?"

The boy stopped. "Mason? Dad, are you sure you're feeling alright? You never call me Mason." He raised about eyebrow at him.

Stan leaned against the doorframe. "Eh, decided to switch things up, for fun," he covered.

The boy stared at him a moment longer, then turned back to unpacking. "Okay...? Anyways, so science camp wasn't as great as I thought it was. I tried talking to you over the radio coms, but there wasn't really a signal out there." The boy went on, but Stan zoned him out, filled with panic.

Science camp? Of course my nerd brother would have a nerd kid.

"So, what have you been up to?" Mason said, snapping Stan back to reality.

He waved his hand, trying to sound smart. "Well, you know, working on that portal in the basement."

"Neat. Make any progress?"

"A few setbacks, actually." Well, it wasn't entirely lying.

"And how are Soos and Wendy?" Mason asked.

Biting his lip, Stan tried to think of what to say. "They're good." Whoever they were.

"Dad, I'm so glad to be back home. The kids at science camp teased me for my birth mark. I know you say to wear it proud, but it's still a little embarrassing at times," the boy said.

Stan was just the slightest bit curious to see the birthmark, but refrained from asking. He knew he should just tell him he wasn't his dad, but he didn't know how. It just felt like butterflies in his stomach. Or more like butter-lies.

"Despite science camp not being so great, I'm still thankful that you took the time and money to let me. Thanks." Mason hugged him again, and this time Stan made sure to hug back. Just to keep him from being suspicious.

Stan felt bad for this kid he had just met. He was bullied and his dad was gone. He didn't even know it yet. There was a sinking feeling in the back of Stan's mind. This boy's father was gone and it was his fault. He couldn't leave. Not now. He smiled sadly.

"Mason, why don't we do something fun together, just you and me?" Stan said.

The boy visibly cringed. "Please stop calling me that, it just feels unnatural. Just stick with Dipper please." He made a weird face at the name.

Stan smirked and nodded. "Right. Dipper."